Many of us grew up with stories of the Concorde, the supersonic passenger jet that could cross the Atlantic in the time it takes to watch The Godfather. The Concorde was a commercial failure, and was decommissioned 13 years ago. But now billionaire mogul Sir Richard Branson says his company, Virgin, will partner with Boom to succeed where the Concorde failed. And this time, says Branson, tickets will be affordable.

Before my students read a section of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca’s travel journal about his exploration of Texas, I had them write directions from their house to a nearby destination. It sounded like a simple assignment until I add these qualifiers. They couldn’t use man-made landmarks or addresses in their instructions, nor could they use vehicles or GPS systems. They were limited to foot travel, and they needed to depend on the sun and stars for directions.

45 million customers are predicted to fly this holiday season. The average American will spend more than seven hours getting somewhere. If you’re traveling, USA TODAY has some helpful hints to make your trip as stress-free as possible.

First, pack early and pack light. Knowing you’re ready to go will ease your mind. And packing light will save you the frustration of trying to find space for your bulky luggage.

Travelers across the High Plains often say there's nothing to see as you travel across this great expanse. A recent article in The Wichita Eagle gave a list of 105 things to see in the state of Kansas that would argue that perception.